The Philippine Navy has denied China’s assertion that it has occupied Sandy Cay — which Beijing refers to as Tiexian Reef — in the South China Sea.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said China’s claim appears to be a distraction from ongoing controversies involving alleged Chinese espionage and a supposed troll farm linked to the Chinese Embassy in Manila in 2023.
“We checked along with the Coast Guard, AFP, BFAR, and other agencies. Nothing unusual was found, and we were able to debunk the photos they presented,” Trinidad told Super Radyo dzBB.
He also pointed out that the photos shared by China lacked timestamps, making their authenticity questionable.
China recently claimed to have seized Sandy Cay, located within the Spratly Islands. However, Trinidad clarified that while four Chinese Coast Guard vessels and 19 maritime militia ships were observed in the area, such sightings are not new, given Sandy Cay’s proximity to Pag-asa Island.
He assured the public that Philippine authorities are maintaining close surveillance of Sandy Cay.